Split plug body suitable for housing a plurality of different electrical contact elements



1-95] A. J. BAROCAS 2,573,53

SPLIT PLUG BODY SUITABLE FOR HOUSING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT ELEMENTS Filed March 8, 1948 I INVENTOR.

ABRAHAMJ BAROCAS.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1951 v SPLIT PLUG BODY SUITABLE FOR HOUSING APLURALITY OF DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT ELEMENTS Abraham J..Barocas, New York, N. Y.

Application March 8, 1948, Serial No. 13.544

zolai s. (o1. 73 ss4) This invention relates tomoldedisplit. plug body suitable for'housing. any of a plurality. of pairs of different electrical contactelements.

This invention. relates to theconstruction rather. than mode of use of electrical plugs-including male plugs, female..plugs,.-and combined male. and

female plugs or connectors..-

It is the principal object of this invention provide a construction which .is adaptable. for use. either as a male plug, ;r as a female plug,

or as a combinationmale and female plug.

In 1 conventional.- constructions, the, male plug body member is maderin .one mold, the female body is made in another but difierent mold and a connector .bodyis made-instill another mold. In the present invention, .a. single mold or series of molds is. used forthe manufactureof a single body which is adapted to house selectively, the male terminals, the female terminals and the combination terminals which .are both male and female. 7 I

One of the. importantieaturesofthis construction resides in the fact that theprongs of the male plug-end of the. combination terminal or contact member are integral with the female contact members; Hence, an electrical connection made with the male contacts-isalsomade ipso facto with-the female contacts, and the-advantages that flow fromthis factare obvious.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a construction as -described,.which has at least two openings through which the wire connections may be selectively drawn.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a-construction as above described, which is usable in connection Withany conventional type of plug or connector construction.

A still further obj ect is the provision of a con: struction which will make it possible tomold two halves of-plugs above described, in-a single mold. both halves being identical and "thus reversible.

Otherobjects of this inventionwill become apparent from vanexamination of the drawingin the light ofthe following specification.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown inthe accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig.1 is afrontiview ofamaleplug, showing its .two' prong members. r

Fig. 2 is a top plan view-thereofishowin the prongs head-on and showing the-two Wire con-, ductors extending through an opening in the housing. l e

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof, showing the openin s;formed therein.

' Fig.-4='is. aside -vie,w of,-the device;gshowing the two prongs in line and also showing .thewire conductors extending. from the housing. Fig. 5 is va partly exploded view-of the device seen in Fig. 2, both halves of the plug being separated, and showing the filler for closingundesired openings.

. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a filler or insert member used in one of the assembly variations of the present embodiment.

Fig. '7 isa perspective viewshowing oneofthe duplicate halves of the plug body.

Fig. 8 is an inside viewof one of the housing members, showing a pair of combined maieana female contact members disposed therein.

Fig. ,9 is aviewsimilar to that of Fig. 8,- but showing a pair of male contact members disposed in the housing.

Fig. 10 isanotherview similar to thatof Fig. 8, but showing a pair of female contact members disposed within thehousing.

Fig. 11 is'another partly exploded view, similar to that of Fig.5, of the assembly shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a face view of an insertor filler used in the assembly shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an edge view thereof.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged inside view ofthe housing member.

Fig. 15 is .a longitudinal section through the completeassembly of whicha part is shownin Fig, 8.

Fig. 16 is a similar section through the, entire assembly of which a part is shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 17 is .a sideview ofa pair of combination members of the type shown in Fig. 8, showingsaid members in connection with each other.

The construction herein claimed comprises a pair of identical complementary housing members 20. Each member is providedwith a ridge or flange 2! along one 'of, its sides and along one-half of each end and a corresponding rabbet 22 formed along its opposite side edge and the other half of each end. It will be noted espe cially inFigs. 3 and 5, that when twoidentical housing members 20 are brought together face to face, their respective flanges 2| will engage theirrespective rabbets 22 to position the two members in place with respect to each other and prevent a twisting movement between them;

It W-illbe noted in Fig. 1 that each of the housingmembers 20 is provided with a trans! versely extending hole 25 which is enlarged at its outer end to form a hexagonally-shaped approach tothe-main portion of the hole proper. This hexagonal portion serves as a seat for a hexag ona'lly-shaped nut to prevent it from rotating;

A screw extends through the corresponding hole in the other of the two housing members 20 and in appearance when viewed fromthe'inside. A:

side edge view, however, as shown in transverse section in Fig. 15, and a bottom view, as appears in Fig. 3, indicates that at itsback' end each housing member 29 is provided with a 'substan i tially semi-circular portion 26 so that when the 7 two cooperating housing members are brought" together, the back end thereofassumes a substantiallycircular form. The mid-section of the housing member may be reduced in size,as shown in-FigglS, but at its forward end a hollow boss Z'lbulges outwardly therefrom, The forward end of'boss 2'! has an opening-28 formed therein and it is through this opening that wires 29 maybe made to' extend, See Figs. and 15,

-' It'will be seen inFig. 14 that each housing member is provided witha pair of notch openings 38 at its forward end and a corresponding pairof notch openings 31 at its backend the forward notches being inalignment with the rear notches. When the two housing I halves are broughttogetherpas shown for examp e, in Fig. 3, the pair of rearnotches 3! in each housing member registers with the corresponding pair, of notches in theother housing member to form a pair of-substantially rectangular slots in the back end of the assembly. The same is true of the notches inthe front end of the housing members 20. Each 'pair of notches fibregisters with the other pair when the two housing mem here are brought together, and theyform a pair of substantially rectangularopenings in the forwardend of the housingcorresponding to those in the back end, as shown in Fig. 3.

On the inside, each housing member 20 is provided with anannular boss 35 wwhichsurrounds hole '25, a pair of substantially rectangular lugs titand a pair of elongated lugs 31. It will be noted in Fig. 14 that lugs 35 are disposed at the front end of the housing member 20, one ineach corner thereof, and spaced both from the front and side Walls 38, 39, and 46 respectively. The second pair of lugs 31 are disposed at the back end of the housing member 30, one in reach corner thereof, said lugs being spaced both from the sidewalls 39 and 40 and from the back wall 4'! of the housing. 'Adjacent the front wall 38, and between saidwall and lugs 36, is a pair of, grooves 42. Each of these constructional features plays an'important role in the assembly of the several parts of the present device, as will hereinafter become apparent.

l Itiwill be appreciated that when the two identical housing members 20 are brought together as shown,'for example in Fig. 15, lugs 36 on the one part will become aligned with the corre-' sponding lugs on the other housing part and the same is true of lugs 31. Annular bosses 35 will also lineup with each other to form a substantially tubular member through which the screw holding the two housing parts together extends.

It will: also be seen in Fig. 14that each housing part "2a is provided With a rib 43 and that th s rib extends substantially from the back wall M of the housing to the annular boss 35. It oc'cu-' pies a central position between the two lugs 31 and between the two notches 3|. Its function will also shortly become apparent.

The device will now be described in connection with its use solely as a rnale plug mernber such asis shown in Fig. 9."? It'will be noted in that figure that a pair of prongs 5b is provided and that these prongs extend through the rear openings in the back of the housing. Each prong Silic'omprises a'jstrip of brass or other suitable metalwhicli'extends around one of the lugs 31,

between said his and the side and back walls, and thence extends outwardly through the appropriate back' wall hole, and it is then bent back "upon itself to enable it to re-enter the housing through said hole, and it is then bent sidewardly along the back wall until it abuts centrally disposed lug 43. That part of prong 50 which lies betweenlug 3 1'and on'e of-the sidewalls of the housing prevents a lateral'movernentof the. rong once it is installed. The abutment of the flange end of the prong against centrally-extending lug 43 also serves to-prevent lateral movement of the prong. And' that portion! of the prong, which-is; disposed between lug 31' and the rear wall :of the housing prevents longitudinal movement of the prong, either forwardly or backwardly; One'of the conductors 29 is-soldered or in any other conventional way affixed to theinner end-of each prong member 50. Conductor zi l then extends into the hollow boss and out'through opening':28' formed therein. V f It T Pron'gs 50 are'spaceda conventional distance apart, and they are of a conventionallength, ref-- erence now being made to those-portions of the two prongs which are -'fol' ded-fba'ck upontne'm selvesand whichlie exteridrly o'f' the housing; Hence, they may be usedin connection with any conventional type of outlet or receptacle.

'InFig; 10} the device is shown p artlyasse'inbled for use'as'a female plug member. 511; will be seen in said figure that it is provlded'-With"a' pair of substantially J-shaped contact members 5| which are connected at'their inner ends of soldering or in any other conventional manner to I struction that when a pair of prongs, such as prongs 50, are inserted into the housing throughthe rear slot openings 3|, they will slidably engage the curved ends of the J-shaped female contact members EL A'shas above-been men tioned in connection with the male prong mem-;

bers shown in Fig. 9, rigs-tranche J shape'd contact members 5| in place between said lugs and the side and back'walls of the housing.

Unlike the construction shownin Fig. 9 however, contact'members 5| are alsoheld'in their proper places by means of lugs '36 which engage the top ends of said J-shaped members betweensaidlugs and the side Walls of the housing. If it should' be desiredfthe top endsof 'contact members 5i may be extended to abut the front wall of the housing. This would further position the con"- ing dislodged.

As has above been H Pious-i the ba k slots oi he h sins tact members 5| andprevent them from becomindicated with respect m"- spaced a conventional distaneeapart to ganable a pair-of cenventionally spaced prongs-onaeonventional-pl-ug to enter the housing t'hrough said 'slots. Since the I curved contact ends of contactinembers 51 are disposed immediately behind these backslots; it-isclear-that contact would be made with them by izheprCmss of a conyentional plug. And inasmuch as prongs-50 extend from these back.s1ots,.it.is.clear thatan assemblygsuchas is shown in part in Fig. 9, may :beema'dezto' engage an assembly, sucheas isrshown in-partin Fig. 10.

Referring now to Fig.8, itwill be seen that a pair 'of combination maleandjemalefeontact members 53 is carried withinj'thehousi g hereina-bove idescribed; This combination member comprises a strip of a 'conventij a tact material-such as brass'brcopper w fold-ed; upon itself to form the'male contac and it is bent or spread part atits oppos to form-the female contacfehd. The. prong ends extend through the'slot s formed nthe front wall of the housing and the femalesend lie insideflthehousing opposite the slots in; the back wall thereof. A pair of-bends' 5H5 formedin the bodyof said combination contact members 53 immediately below the prong or'male portions and inside of the housing in which they are disposed. It will be noted in Fig. 8 that lugs 36 engage these bends 54 to assist in positioning combination contact members 53 in their housing. Although the lower or female ends are free to spread apart to accommodate the prong members of a plug, they are nonetheless sufficiently confined by lugs 3! to prevent them from twisting out of operative position in their said casing. Centrallydisposed lugs 43 prevents twisting of said contact members 53 in the opposite direction. Bends 54 serve two additional functions. It is to these bends that wires 29 are soldered or otherwise affixed. It is also these bends which provide the female ends of said contact members 53 with sufficient resilience and springiness to perform their necessar function.

It will be understood that the device shown in Fig. 8 is a combination male and female connector. This may be seen in Fig. 17 where the connector on the right side of the two members therein shown is this combination member last above described. The member to the left of the combination member in Fig. 17 is the male connector shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 17 is intended to illustrate the manner in which the combination male and female member shown in Fig. 8 may be used. It is not, however, intended to limit the scope of its use. It will be noted, for example, in Fig. 8, that the combination member is provided with wires 29. These wires need not necessarily be used should it be desired to conduct current through the male prongs of the combination member, as seen in Fig. 17. On the other hand, these wires may be used to provide-a secondary circuit in parallel. Still another method by which this combination method may be used would be to feed current into said member through said wires, and the prongs thereon may be utilized in a secondary circuit in parallel, although this secondary circuit may, if desired, be in series with the main circuit. The possible combinations in the use of this combination member is virtually limitless, and the possible combinations above described are intended merely to serve as illustrations. The use of the members shown in Figs. 6, 12, and 13 may now be described. It has above been stated that the housing comprises a pair of identical housing members, each of which has a nitrates hollow bosseand an opening .extending :through the bossj through which the wiresmay be drawn. Ithas-been. stated that thewiresmay be drawn through either of said openings, depending upon the individual requirements of'any particular case.- When-thewires are drawnthroughone of said openings and .the combined male and female contact elements: are. used, it is desirable that the other :openingi28 beclosedeto prevent the entry of :foreign matterqinto the housing. Ine ser-t or, filler members :60. or. 65 may accordingly be used 'forsthis purpose. It will beseenthat themember 60' comprisesa rectangular-shaped platen-having a flangeg-fil formed transversely thereof nearerzone of the ends of the rectangle than-the-Jother. Reference to .Figg15 will-show howvthisinsert-is mounted in the housing-to closempthelunused opening28. The flangeportion ifil extends. into the .hollow of boss 21' and the. rectangular plate .portion bears against .the front ,wall of the :housingand extends into the unused opening 28; There is a tight fit be.- tween said insert andthehousing, and once inserted in place it remains inplace ,until-ine tentionallyrremoved therefrom.

- Thesecond insert :65 serves substantially the same purpose as the first insert, and it is used when the male or female plug is assembled. This filler or insert 65 comprises a substantially T- shaped member having a pair of spaced lugs 66 formed thereon, transversely of the cross piece of the T. The leg GBaof the T extends into the unused opening 28. The cross piece rests in grooves 42 between the front wall of the housing and lugs 36. -'I'he transverse lugs 66 on said insert project into the slotted openings in the front wall of the housing. It will be observed that this insert may be held in place very tightly in that it not only closes the unused opening 28 but it also closes the unused slotted openings 30 in the front end of the housing.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the invention herein claimed is susceptible of a great many variations, not only variations in combination as has above been indicated, but also variations in construction and form. For example, the outer shape which the two housing parts are shown to assume in the drawing may be changed to suit ones aesthetic sense without doing violence to any of the essential features of the invention. The specific material of which the device may be made is not critical and any material which is conventionally used in the manufacture of plugs may be used to equal advantage in connection with the present invention. Other variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An electrical plug body comprising a pair of identical complementary halves, each half having a flange along one of its side edges and along one half of each end extending upwardly from the surface which is to abut its complementary half, and a rabbet formed along its opposite side edge and along the other half of each end, the flanges and rabbets being complementary to interengage when two halves of the body are assembled, each body half being hollow and having a pair of through openings through both of its end walls communicating with the hollow space in said body, four lugs extending up into said space adjacent the four corners of said body half and spaced apart from the side walls and from each end wallof said body,- saidplug identical complementary halves, each half having a fiangealong one of its side edges and along one-half of each end-extending upwardly from the surface which is to abut its complementary half, and a rabbet formed along its opposite side edge and along the" other half of each end, the flanges and rabbets being complementary to interengage when two halves of the body are assembled, each body half being'hollow and having a pair of through openings through both of its members, and a pair'of combined male and female contact members, and each body half having a lateral opening through its bottom wall for entrance. of conductors, and a replaceable closure member which closes one of said lateral openings.

' ABRAHAM J. BAROCAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: v 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 769,646 Case Sept. 6,1904 1,617,474 Alschuler Feb. 15, 1927 1,749,364 Weisberg Mar. 4, 1930 1,754,709 Brach Apr. 15, 1930 1,875,219 Clemence Aug. 30, 1932 1,918,126 Peterson July 11, 1933 1,941,488 Propp Jan. 2, 1934 1,954,252 Maus Apr. 10, 1934 1,979,958 Clark Nov. 6, 1934 2,086,641 Riley July 13, 1937 2,124,156 Torbert July 19, 1938 2,316,167 Huppert Apr. 13, 1943 Benander Nov. 12, 1946 

